Neurolaw

An example of an fMRI brain scan. fMRI BOLD outputs (yellow) are overlaid on a brain anatomy image (gray) averaged from several humans. Similar images are used in a variety of applications, now including law.

Neurolaw is a field of interdisciplinary study that explores the effects of discoveries in neuroscience on legal rules and standards.^[1] Drawing from neuroscience, philosophy, social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and criminology, neurolaw practitioners seek to address not only the descriptive and predictive issues of how neuroscience is and will be used in the legal system, but also the normative issues of how neuroscience should and should not be used.

The rapid growth of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research has led to new insights on neuroanatomical structure and function, which has led to a greater understanding of human behavior and cognition. As a response, there has been an emergence of questions regarding how these findings can be applied to criminology and legal processes.^[2] Major areas of current neurolaw research include courtroom applications, legal implications of neuroscience findings, and how neuroscience-related jurisdiction can be created and applied.^[3]^[4]

Despite the growing interest in neurolaw and its potential applications, the legal realm recognizes the substantial opportunity for misuse and is proceeding cautiously with novel research outcomes.^[2]^[5]^[6]^[7]

^ Petoft, Arian (2019). "A Historical Overview of Law and Neuroscience: From the Emergence of Medico-Legal Discourses to Developed Neurolaw". Archivio Penale. 1 (3): 53–8. PMC 4395810. PMID 25874060.
^ ^a ^b Meynen, Gerben (2019). "Neurolaw: recognizing opportunities and challenges for psychiatry". Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 41 (1): 3–5. doi:10.1503/jpn.150317. ISSN 1180-4882. PMC 4688026. PMID 26674511.
^ Eagleman, David M. (July–August 2011). "The Brain on Trial". The Atlantic. [1]
^ Petoft, Arian (2015). "Neurolaw: a brief introduction". Iran J Neurol. 14 (1): 53–8. PMC 4395810. PMID 25874060.
^ Petoft, Arian (2015). "Toward Human Behavior Sciences from the Perspective of Neurolaw" (PDF). International Journal of Public Mental Health and Neurosciences. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Goodenough, Oliver R. and Macaela Tucker; Tucker, Micaela (December 2010). "Law and Cognitive Neuroscience". Annual Review of Law and Social Science. 6: 61–92. doi:10.1146/annurev.lawsocsci.093008.131523.
^ Button, Katherine S.; Ioannidis, John P. A.; Mokrysz, Claire; Nosek, Brian A.; Flint, Jonathan; Robinson, Emma S. J.; Munafò, Marcus R. (May 2013). "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience". Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 14 (5): 365–376. doi:10.1038/nrn3475. ISSN 1471-0048. PMID 23571845.

[Petoft-Arian-1] Petoft, Arian (2019). "A Historical Overview of Law and Neuroscience: From the Emergence of Medico-Legal Discourses to Developed Neurolaw". Archivio Penale. 1 (3): 53–8. PMC 4395810. PMID 25874060.

[:0-2] Meynen, Gerben (2019). "Neurolaw: recognizing opportunities and challenges for psychiatry". Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience. 41 (1): 3–5. doi:10.1503/jpn.150317. ISSN 1180-4882. PMC 4688026. PMID 26674511.

[Eagleman-3] Eagleman, David M. (July–August 2011). "The Brain on Trial". The Atlantic. [1]

[Petoft-4] Petoft, Arian (2015). "Neurolaw: a brief introduction". Iran J Neurol. 14 (1): 53–8. PMC 4395810. PMID 25874060.

[Petoft-3-5] Petoft, Arian (2015). "Toward Human Behavior Sciences from the Perspective of Neurolaw" (PDF). International Journal of Public Mental Health and Neurosciences. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[Goodenough-6] Goodenough, Oliver R. and Macaela Tucker; Tucker, Micaela (December 2010). "Law and Cognitive Neuroscience". Annual Review of Law and Social Science. 6: 61–92. doi:10.1146/annurev.lawsocsci.093008.131523.

[7] Button, Katherine S.; Ioannidis, John P. A.; Mokrysz, Claire; Nosek, Brian A.; Flint, Jonathan; Robinson, Emma S. J.; Munafò, Marcus R. (May 2013). "Power failure: why small sample size undermines the reliability of neuroscience". Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 14 (5): 365–376. doi:10.1038/nrn3475. ISSN 1471-0048. PMID 23571845.

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